# 1858–59 United States Senate elections

The 1858–59 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1858 and 1859, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2.
The Republican Party gained five additional seats in the Senate, but the Democrats retained their majority. That majority would erode in 1860 with the secession of the southern states leading up to the Civil War.
In Illinois, incumbent Stephen A. Douglas (D) and challenger Abraham Lincoln (R) held a series of seven debates, known as the "Lincoln–Douglas debates."

## Results summary

Senate party division, 36th Congress (1859–1861)
* Majority party: Democratic (38–25)
* Minority party: Republican (25–26)
* Other parties: American (2)
* Total seats: 66–68

## Change in Senate composition
### Before the elections

| D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | | | | | | |
| D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{13}$ |
| D$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ |
| D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ Ran | D$_{27}$ Ran | D$_{28}$ Ran | D$_{29}$ Ran | D$_{30}$ Ran | D$_{31}$ Ran | D$_{32}$ Ran | D$_{33}$ Ran |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{34}$ Ran |
| KN$_4$ Unknown | D$_{42}$ Retired | D$_{41}$ Retired | D$_{40}$ Retired | D$_{39}$ Retired | D$_{38}$ Retired | D$_{37}$ Ran | D$_{36}$ Ran | D$_{35}$ Ran | D$_{34}$ Ran |
| KN$_3$ Unknown | KN$_2$ | KN$_1$ | R$_{20}$ Ran | R$_{19}$ Ran | R$_{18}$ Ran | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ |
| R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ |
| R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | | | | | | |

### As a result of the elections

| D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | | | | | | |
| D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{13}$ |
| D$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ |
| D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ Re-elected | D$_{27}$ Re-elected | D$_{28}$ Re-elected | D$_{29}$ Re-elected | D$_{30}$ Re-elected | D$_{31}$ Re-elected | D$_{32}$ Re-elected | D$_{33}$ Hold |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{34}$ Hold |
| R$_{24}$ Gain | R$_{25}$ Gain | KN$_1$ | KN$_2$ | V$_1$ D Loss | D$_{38}$ Gain | D$_{37}$ Gain | D$_{36}$ Hold | D$_{35}$ Hold | D$_{34}$ Hold |
| R$_{23}$ Gain | R$_{22}$ Gain | R$_{21}$ Gain | R$_{20}$ Re-elected | R$_{19}$ Re-elected | R$_{18}$ Re-elected | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ |
| R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ |
| R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | | | | | | |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic KN$_#$ Know Nothing R$_#$ Republican V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 35th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1858 or in 1859 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Minnesota (Class 1) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Minnesota's first senators were elected May 11, 1858. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Henry M. Rice (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Minnesota (Class 2) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Minnesota's first senators were elected May 11, 1858. Democratic gain. | ▌Y James Shields (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon (Class 2) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Oregon's first senators were elected in 1858 in advance of statehood. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Delazon Smith (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon (Class 3) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Oregon's first senators were elected in 1858 in advance of statehood. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Joseph Lane (Democratic) [data missing] |
| North Carolina (Class 3) | Thomas Clingman | Democratic | 1858 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 23, 1858 to finish the term. | ▌Y Thomas Clingman (Democratic) [data missing] |
| South Carolina (Class 2) | Arthur P. Hayne | Democratic | 1858 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired when successor elected. New senator elected December 3, 1858. Democratic hold. Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. | ▌Y James Chesnut Jr. (Democratic) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 36th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1859; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | Clement Claiborne Clay | Democratic | 1853 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1858. | ▌Y Clement Claiborne Clay (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Arkansas | William K. Sebastian | Democratic | 1848 (appointed) 1848 (special) 1853 | Incumbent re-elected in 1859. | ▌Y William K. Sebastian (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Delaware | Martin W. Bates | Democratic | 1857 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1858. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Willard Saulsbury Sr. (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Georgia | Robert Toombs | Democratic | 1852 | Incumbent re-elected in 1858. | ▌Y Robert Toombs (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Illinois | Stephen A. Douglas | Democratic | 1846 1852 | Incumbent re-elected January 5, 1859. | ▌Y Stephen A. Douglas (Democratic) 54 ▌Abraham Lincoln (Republican) 46 |
| Iowa | George Wallace Jones | Democratic | 1848 1852 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected January 26, 1858. Republican gain. | ▌Y James W. Grimes (Republican) 64 ▌Benjamin M. Samuels (Democratic) 41 |
| Kentucky | John B. Thompson | Know Nothing | 1851 (early) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in January 1858. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Lazarus W. Powell (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Louisiana | Judah P. Benjamin | Democratic | 1852 | Incumbent re-elected in 1859. | ▌Y Judah P. Benjamin (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Maine | William P. Fessenden | Republican | 1854 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1859. | ▌Y William P. Fessenden (Republican) [data missing] |
| Massachusetts | Henry Wilson | Republican | 1855 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1859. | ▌Y Henry Wilson (Republican) [data missing] |
| Michigan | Charles E. Stuart | Democratic | 1853 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1858. Republican gain. | ▌Y Kinsley S. Bingham (Republican) [data missing] |
| Minnesota | James Shields | Democratic | 1849 (Ill.) 1849 (Ill.; election voided) 1849 (Ill.; special) 1855 (Ill.; lost) 1858 (Minn.) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected December 15, 1859. Republican gain. | ▌Y Morton S. Wilkinson (Republican) 79 ▌James Shields (Democratic) 33 ▌W. A. Gorman (Democratic) 1 |
| Mississippi | Albert G. Brown | Democratic | 1854 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1859. | ▌Y Albert G. Brown (Democratic) [data missing] |
| New Hampshire | John P. Hale | Republican | 1846 1853 (retired) 1855 | Incumbent re-elected in 1859. | ▌Y John P. Hale (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Jersey | William Wright | Democratic | 1852 or 1853 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1858. Republican gain. | ▌Y John C. Ten Eyck (Republican) [data missing] |
| North Carolina | David Reid | Democratic | 1854 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1858 or 1859. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Thomas Bragg (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon | Delazon Smith | Democratic | 1859 | Incumbent lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat would remain vacant until 1860. | ▌Delazon Smith (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Rhode Island | Philip Allen | Democratic | 1853 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1858. Republican gain. | ▌Y Henry B. Anthony (Republican) [data missing] |
| South Carolina | Arthur P. Hayne | Democratic | 1858 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected December 3, 1858. Democratic hold. Winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above. | ▌Y James Chesnut Jr. (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Tennessee | John Bell | Know Nothing | 1847 1853 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1858. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Alfred O. P. Nicholson (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Texas | Sam Houston | Democratic | 1846 1847 1853 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1859. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John Hemphill (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Virginia | Robert M. T. Hunter | Democratic | 1846 1852 | Incumbent re-elected in 1858. | ▌Y Robert M. T. Hunter (Democratic) [data missing] |

### Elections during the 36th Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1859 on or after March 4; ordered by date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Texas (Class 1) | Matthias Ward | Democratic | 1858 (appointed) | Interim appointee lost nomination to finish the term. New senator elected December 5, 1859. Democratic hold. | Y Louis Wigfall (Democratic) [data missing] |

### Race leading to the 37th Congress

In this regular election, the winner was elected for the term beginning March 4, 1861.
This election involved a Class 3 seat.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Kentucky (Class 3) | John J. Crittenden | Know Nothing | 1816 1819 (resigned) 1835 1841 (retired) 1842 (appointed) 1842 or 1843 (special) 1843 1848 (resigned) 1854 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected December 12, 1859, far in advance of the term. Winner wasn't seated until term began March 4, 1861. Democratic gain. | ▌Y John C. Breckinridge (Democratic) [data missing] |

## Illinois

Incumbent U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas, a Democrat, defeated a challenge by former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee. Lincoln, who had been a member of the Whig Party prior to 1856, attacked Douglas for his perceived subservience to the Slave Power, as evidenced by his support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dred Scott v. Sanford. The election was extremely close, hinging on Douglas' ability to appeal to former Whigs who had resisted joining the Republicans following the decline of the Whig party after 1854. In the finale weeks of the campaign, Douglas received the coveted endorsement of Kentucky's John J. Crittenden, a prominent former Whig and Douglas' colleague in the Senate. Crittenden's support for Douglas considerably diminished Lincoln's chances of winning the election.
On election day, the statewide Republican ticket took 50.6% of the popular vote, outpolling the Democrats by a margin of 3,402 votes. Further down ballot, Republican candidates for the state legislature collectively received 24,094 more votes than the Douglas Democrats. (Buchanan Democrats received almost 10,000 votes, and there were a scattering of votes for write-in candidates.) Despite this, strategically drawn district boundaries produced Democratic majorities in both houses of the state legislature: 40 Democrats and 35 Republicans were elected to the state House of Representatives, while the Democratic margin in the Senate was 14–11. On the day of the election in the Illinois General Assembly, Douglas received 54 votes to Lincoln's 46. The change of just over 300 votes in three state legislative districts from Democrats to Republicans would have been sufficient to deny Democrats a legislative majority and defeat Douglas.
In spite of his defeat, Lincoln's debates with Douglas were followed nationally and established Lincoln as a leading contender for the Republican nomination in the 1860 United States presidential election. In the aftermath of the senatorial election, Lincoln contacted editors looking to publish the texts of the debates. George Parsons, the Ohio Republican committee chairman, got Lincoln in touch with Ohio's main political publisher, Follett and Foster, of Columbus. They published copies of the text under the title, Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas in the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois. Four printings were made, and the fourth sold 16,000 copies.